Batemans Bay: Onelife Gym‘s Tracey Innes says $69m council leisure centre threatens future

A south coast gym owner says a new leisure centre, which will be run by an AFL Premiership-winning team, will undercut their business and threaten the future of others.

There are fears a proposed $69 million local government built aquatic, arts and leisure centre on the south coast will undercut local gyms, adding more financial pressure to an industry struggling due to Covid pandemic closures.

Eurobodalla Shire Council passed a motion on Tuesday to set user fees for the Batemans Bay Regional Aquatic, Arts and Leisure Centre ahead of its opening next year.

The centre will host indoor pools, an arts and cultural centre, an auditorium for 350 patrons, a gallery and exhibition space, arts workshop spaces, meeting rooms and a controversial fitness centre.

Onelife Gym’s Tracey Innes said the centre’s entry fee of $17 and membership cost of $67.20 per month will send local gyms broke.

Tracey Innes and her nephew Mace from Onelife Gym at Batemans Bay.

“The fact of the matter is, there’s nine gyms within a five kilometre radius, so we are overindulging,” Ms Innes said.

“The council have pretty much modelled it on our business, which has been a gym here for 40 years.

“I told them more than a year ago that every time a gym opens in town, one shuts.

“I bought this gym 14 years ago after it went bankrupt when a new gym opened, and when I opened another shut.

“I employ 28 people and I don’t understand why council will supplement a new business over existing businesses.”

The cost of membership at Ms Innes’s gym membership is $120 per month with no lock-in contract, and she says the tourist trade will likely visit the new centre due to its proximity to the highway.

Richmond Tigers CEO Brendon Gale (right) said he looks forward to working with Eurobodalla Shire Council. Picture: Michael Willson

While the council will set user fees, the new centre will be run by the Richmond Football Club-owned Aligned Leisure, who under a new deal will also manage the Moruya War Memorial Pool and the Narooma Swimming Centre.

“The Eurobodalla Shire Council had a vision for this facility, and they should be congratulated on what they have delivered. We look forward to working closely with the council and the local community to bring this to life,” Richmond CEO Brendon Gale said.

A council spokeswoman said the fees and charges were created by Otium Planning Group after comparing local “leisure facilities”.

“In responding to concerns raised by gym operators prior to the proposed fees and charges being placed on exhibition, council resolved to amend the draft gold and platinum memberships, to further ensure a fair comparison to gym pricing in the region,” they said.

“Council is not obligated to report on competition neutrality.

Artist impressions of the Regional Arts, Aquatic and Leisure Centre at Batemans Bay.

“Regardless, through a rigorous process, the fees and charges for the Bay Pavilions are comparable to regional leisure facilities and local gyms.

“The new fees and charges are not deemed to provide a competitive advantage. Furthermore, council has sought to address concerns raised by local gym operators by amending some of the draft fees and charges associated with gym operations in the new facility.”

The new leisure centre is due for completion in 2022.

Ms Innes, who is also mayor Liz Innes’s sister in law, said while the council had “upped” fees by “a couple of bucks”, she said “it’s not enough”.

“Why do councils get to dictate to a private company what to charge?” she said.

“If it was a normal business I wouldn’t be worried because they would go under in six months charging such low prices.

“I get that business is business, but the subsidy will hurt.”

Ms Innes, who presented her concerns to councillors this week, said she was quickly running out of options in her battle to save local gyms.

“There has been so many unknowns through the pandemic,” she said.

“When we reopened this week after the recent lockdown we had 250 people put their memberships on hold until December, but many are also not coming back.

“I couldn’t sell my gym even if I tried because this new centre is coming.”